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All glossary terms

Privacy & data

Data Mapping

Data mapping is the documentation of information categories, sources, purposes, systems, recipients, and movement within a defined process. It can be a table or diagram that makes relationships between data and operations understandable to reviewers.

Also known as data flow mapping.

Why it matters in practice

Teams use maps to support privacy reviews, security analysis, retention planning, and system changes. A map should state its scope and date of validation, because an incomplete or stale representation can create false confidence. It records how people understand a process; it does not by itself authorize that process.

Example

A service owner maps account details from a form to an internal queue, a processing service, and the storage location used for support.

Educational note

This definition is general information, not legal advice. It may omit facts that matter to a specific situation and does not establish or guarantee compliance.